SHREVEPORT -- LSU Shreveport is kicking off construction of Doc’s Boathouse, which will provide secure storage for LSUS Fishing Team boats.
Doc’s Boathouse honors the late Dr. Lacy Williams, a long-time LSUS supporter. His generous gifts made the boathouse possible. An avid angler, Dr. Williams backed the LSUS anglers in numerous ways for more than a decade. He and his wife, Edie Williams, also funded the Circle of Excellence on campus, scholarships and many LSUS initiatives.
On Thursday, members of the Williams family, LSUS officials, LSUS anglers and representatives of the LSUS Foundation turned the first shovels of dirt at the construction site on campus. Construction will start this summer and is expected to be finished in early 2026. The metal building will have six boat bays and a wash bay.
In addition to financial support, Dr. Williams often invited the team to practice at the family’s private lake in East Texas.
“As a proud graduate of LSUS, my husband Lacy and I have continued to support the University. We have watched the bass team develop from its inception to its now high national ranking and are thrilled to continue to support the team with the construction of Doc's House,” Mrs. Williams said.
LSU Shreveport’s fishing team started with a handful of students as a club. When Coach Charles Thompson took over four years ago, four student anglers were participating. This season, the 20-person team is ranked fifth nationally. Team members fish in college tournaments around the United States, including national championships. Thompson actively recruits new anglers from high schools in the region.
“Recruits bring their boat with them when they come to campus. With boat pricing upwards of $100,000, it's imperative that we have a place to store and protect them. This is why we need a boathouse,” Coach Thompson said. “We've had the opportunity to build a top-tier program located in one of the best fishing areas in the country. I coach because I believe higher education today is monumental. LSUS's affordable tuition allows me to graduate anglers with minimal to no student debt. Fishing is just the vehicle.”
LSUS anglers are earning national recognition not just for LSUS athletics but also the university’s strong academics as they compete in tournaments.
“For more than a decade, the LSU Shreveport Fishing Team has been consistently ranked as one of the best collegiate bass fishing teams in the country. Unlike other sports at LSUS, they compete against teams from all over the country, from elite small colleges to large flagship campuses,” said LSUS Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith.
“This season, our team has been ranked between No. 2 and No. 5 nationally, bringing national attention to LSUS. This boathouse project is a critical step forward in providing a facility for our team. This would not have been possible without the support of the LSUS Foundation, and especially Edie Williams and the late Dr. Lacey Williams and the entire Williams family, to whom we are most thankful,” Dr. Smith said.
LSUS Foundation CEO and President Laura Perdue said she’s grateful for the Williams family’s generosity and vision.
“Doc’s Boathouse is such a testament to Dr. Lacy’s passion for the bass fishing team, and we are so grateful. He was an incredible role model for our anglers, and we will never forget the amount of time he also dedicated to the students. Anytime you pass Doc’s Boathouse or one of our anglers pulling their boat to the next competition, we hope you will remember the legacy of Dr. Lacy Williams.”
